Folding camp-stool.



No. 801,966. PATENTED OCT.17, 1905.

' H. BREIDING. FOLDING CAMP STOOL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 9. 1904.

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HENRY BREIDING, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CAMP-STOOL.

Specification or Letters lr'atent.

Patented. Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed September 9, 1904. Serial No. 223,874.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BREIDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of WVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Camp-Stools; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the figures of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to folding campstools, and aims to provide a substantial device of this class the parts of which are capable of being folded into compact space.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the operative parts as they appear with two of the adjacent angle-plates removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the seat-supports and legs folded together. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section in the line 4: 4 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A central support 1 is formed by uniting four angle-plates 2 2 by means of several pairs of bolts or rivets 3 and 4, each of which is provided with a washer 5 between the pair of plates in which it is secured. The washers 5 are of uniform thickness and determine the width of the spaces between the several pairs of plates 2. Longitudinally of the support 1,

centrally thereof, is a bolt 6, which further.

assists in holding the plates 2 apart. a

In the upper part of the support 1 seat-supports7 are pivotally secured between each pair of plates 2 by means of bolts 8, fixed at each end in such plates and passing through slots 9 in the supports 7. The inner ends of the supports 7 are beveled, so as to coincide with the face of the bolt 6, against which they are adapted to be supported when such supports are opened for use. To the upper ends of the supports 7 is secured by any suitable means a seat 10, which is preferably formed of canvas or similar flexible and durable material.

In the lower part of the support 1 a radial series of legs 11 are hinged in the spaces between the plates 2 by means of pins or bolts 12, fixed at each end in the plates 2 and pass ing through slots 13 in the inner ends of the legs. The legs 11 when extended are adapted to be held from movement by having their inner ends held between the several pairs of bolts 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

The supports 7 and legs 11 are preferably formed of metal strips of suitable thickness. to be closely held in the spaces in the support 1, yet permitted hinge movement therein, as already mentioned. The upper ends of the supports 7 are given a quarter-twist in order to facilitate the fastening of the seat thereto, and the outer ends of the legs 11 are similarly bent, so as to present a larger surface to the ground where they come in contact therewith.

When the stool is in use, as shown in Fig. 1, the inner ends of the supports 7 are engaged between the bolt 6 and pins 3 or washers thereon, the supports being thus practically locked from movement in either direction, especially preventing the drawing together of the upper ends of such supports and consequent sagging of the seat. At the same time the legs 11 support the stool in all directions, the inner ends of such legs having a bearing upon the bolts 1, limiting the upward movement of the outer ends thereof. The slant of the legs 11 varies only slightly from the horizontal, the outer ends thereof being in contact with the ground throughout. The ends of the legs and the lower end of the support 1 are in the same horizontal plane when the legs are extended, and the stool is thus given a central support in addition to that of the ends of the legs.

I-n devices of this class wherein the legs project downwardly at an angle to the ground when in use on soft earth an unequal distribution of the weight upon such stool will cause one or more of such legs to sink into the ground, causing the seat to lose its horizontal position. In my device this difiiculty is avoided in the manner just mentioned by having a considerable portion of each leg in contact with the ground and, further, by contact of the lower end of the central support with the ground, by which means an additional bearing is secured and the pressure upon the legs relieved to a great extent. To accomplish this, it is important that the legs when locked in extended position be held in the support 1 at approximately a right angle thereto.

To fold the stool, the supports 7 are drawn upwardly until they clear the bolts 3 and turned inwardly until they are brought into proximity with one another, as shown in Fig. 3, the seat being folded between and wrapped 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

.tact of the inner end thereof with the bolt 3,

such legs being thereby retained in their extended position. The accidental release and folding of the leg may be further guarded against by forming a small notch lt in the upper edge of the legs to more perfectly engage the bolt; but I donot regard this as essential.

Some of the parts which have beendescribed.

as having contact with the bolts 3 and 4 do not have actual contact therewith by reason of the interposition of the washers thereon; but the function of such washers has no reference to these parts, and if other means were employed for the separation of the plates the contact would be directly with the bolts. The construction has therefore been treated as if I the engagement with such bolts were a direct one.

The construction of my device can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. A three-legged stool can be con structed by using three of the plates 2, bent at a suitable'angle, together with the use of three seat-supports, a corresponding number of legs, and a triangular seat 10 in place of the seat shown. By reducing the proportions a childs seat can be produced or a suitable seat to be used as a third seat for carriages. By slight changes in structure the central portion can be extended in length and the seat-supports correspondingly shortened, if desired, to give additional rigidity to such supports.

What Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A device of the class named, comprisinga radial support, having radial spaces for the insertion of the seat-supports and legs of the stool; a plurality of seat-supports, pivotally secured in the upper ends of said radial spaces, and adapted to. be folded inwardly into'proximity with one another; a series of legs, pivotally secured in the lower ends of said radial spaces, and adapted to be folded upwardly into such spaces; a flexible seat, secured to said seat-supports; means within said radial spaces for locking said seat-supports from accidental closing; and means within said radialspaces for locking the legs in an extended position, from upward or downward movement, at approximately a right angle to said central support, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class named, the combination of the central support 1; the bolt 8, suitably supported therein, the support 7, hinged on the bolt 8 by means of the slot 9 in the lower end of such support; the bolt 6, centrally of the support 1; and the bolt 3, between which and the bolt 6 the lower end of the support7is adapted to be held, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the support 1; the bolt 12, suitably fixed therein, the leg 11, hinged on the bolt 12 by means of the slot 13 in the inner end of such leg; and the bolt 4:, fixed in the support 1, and adapted to limit the upward movement of the leg 11 substantially as shown and set forth.

1. The combination of the support 1, having radial spaces vertically thereof and a solid central portion; a plurality of supports 7, provided with slots 9, engaging bolts 8 fixed in the support 1, near the upper ends of the spaces thereof; the inner ends of the supports 7 conforming to said central portion,and abutting the same when in use; a plurality of legs 11, having slots 13 engaging bolts 12 in the support 1, near the lower ends of the spaces therein; the bolts a, fixed in the support 1, adapted to limit the upward movement of the legs 11; and the bolts 3, adapted to simultaneously engage the lower ends of the supports 7 and prevent the downward movement of the legs 11; substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the support 1; the bolt 12, fixed therein; the leg 11, hinged on the bolt 12 by means of the slot 13in the inner end of such leg; the bolt 4:, fixed in the support 1, adapted to limit the upward movement of the leg 11 when such leg is in use; and the bolt 3, fixed in the support 1, and adapted to prevent the downward movement of the leg 11, when such leg is extended for use; substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of witnesses.

HENRY BREIDING.

Witnesses:

I. L. WEAVER, W. J. BELL. 

